Multiple drum handling device



A g- 2 1967 J. F. E. ERICSON MULTIPLE DRUM HANDLING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed 00L 14, 1965 ATTORNEYS Aug. 29, 1967 Filed 00tl4, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN F. E. ERICSON AT TO R N EYS J. F. E. ERICSON 3,338,616

MULTIPLE DRUM HANDLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 29, 1967 INVENTOR JOHN F. E. ERICSON ATTORNEYS Aug. 29; 1967 J. F. E. ERICSON MULTIPLE DRUM HANDLING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet t Filed Oct. 14, 1965 INVENTOR JOHN F. E. ERICSON ATTO RNEYS 29, 1967 J. F. E. ERICSON 3,338,616

MULTIPLE DRUM HANDLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR JOHN F E. ERICSON ATTORNEYS Aug. 29, 1967 J. FJE. ERICSON 3,333,616

. MULTIPLE DRUM HANDLING DEVICE Filed on. 14, 1965 e Sheets-Sheet s FIG-ll INVENTOR JOHN F. E. ERICSON AT TO RNEYS United States Patent 3,338,616 MULTIPLE DRUM HANDLING DEVICE John F. E. Ericson, Skokie, Ill., assig'nor to Marvel Industries, Inc., Evanston, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 495,981 20 Claims. (Cl. 294-81) This invention relates to improvements in drum handling devices and more particularly relates to a gripping attachment for a lift truck or derrick, for gripping and simultaneously lifting a plurality of drums.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of gripping attachment for gripping and lifting a cluster of drums, barrels and the like, arranged with a view toward utmost simplicity in construction and operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified form of gripping arrangement for a lift truck or derrick, automatically operable by lowering and lifting of the attachment for gripping and lifting a cluster of drums, barrels and the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simplified form of drum lifting device for attachment to a vertical lifting element so arranged as to center the device with respect to a cluster of drums having beaded rims, upon lowering movement of device between the drums, and to effect a gripping action of the device with the beads of the drums of a cluster of drums, by the simple operation of lowering the device onto the cluster of drums and then elevating the device with the drums for transportation.

Still another and important object of the invention is to provide a simplified form of drum lifting device including a pair of clamping jaws adapted to engage within and beneath the bead of a drum, in which the positioning of the jaws in a clamping position is attained by lowering the jaws into engagement with the drum and moving an operating member for the jaws into an operative position, by lowering the device onto the drum, whereby the operating member will be positioned to hold the clamping jaws to clampingly engage the head of the drum upon upward lifting movement of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lifting device for a cluster of drums having beaded rims in which a pair of gripping jaws for each drum is carried by an individual casing to grip beneath and within the beaded rims of the drums, in which equalizing mountings are provided for the casings in position to hold the drums substantially vertical during lifting and transportation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a drum handling device for handling and lifting a cluster of drums having beaded rims including a series of jaws for grippingly engaging the beads of the drums in which the actuating mechanism for the jaws is operated by operation of a movable operator moved into operating and release positions by engagement of the device with the drums, by relative movement between the operator with respect to its support.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings where- 1n:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a drum handling device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing the device mounted on the horizontal arm of a boom for attachment to a lift truck and the like;

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the device 3,338,616 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 shown in FIGURES l and 2 with the truck mounting plate and boom removed;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the device with the truck mounting plate and boom broken away and shown in vertical section;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line VV of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial fragmentary vertical sectional View taken through the device, with certain parts broken away in order to show certain details of the gripping jaws and support and operating mechanism therefor;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device with a part of the support therefor broken away and the clamping jaws removed in order to show certain details of the operator for the clamping jaws;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line VIIIVIII of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line IXIX of FIGURE 7 and showing the operator locked in its up operating position;

FIGURE 10 is a view somewhat similar to FIGURE 9 but showing the operator in its down unlocked position;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line XI-XI of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line XII-XII of FIGURE 8.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, I have shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, a gripping attachment 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and suspended from a horizontal plate 11 of a boom arm structure 12. The boom *arm structure 12 is mounted on and extends forwardly of a vertical boom or mast 13 having spaced mounting brackets 14, 14, extending rearwardly therefrom for mounting on the vertically movable lifting element (not shown) of a lift truck (not shown), which may be a conventional form of industrial type of lift truck commonly used to transport material from place to place and to lift the same for stacking.

The plate 11 is shown in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5 as having four equally spaced openings 15 adjacent the corners and having circular walls, for suspension bolts 16 and collars 17 mounted thereon, and spaced substantial distances inwardly of said walls of said openings. As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, abutment plates 18 extend about the collars 17 and slidably abut the top surface of the plate 11, and form a suspension means for the bolts 16 spider 21 for the lifting attachment and may be Welded or otherwise secured thereto.

The spider 21 thus supports the attachment 10 on the plate 11 for slidable movement along said plate to accom-' modate the spider 21 to center itself with respect to a cluster of drums as moved downwardly between the cluster. A plurality of centering springs 23 is provided to.

center the spider 21 with respect to the plate 11. The springs 23 are hooked at their upper ends to hooks 24 depending from the plate 11 and extend angularly downwardly and inwardly toward a central depending leg 25 of the spider. The springs 23 are hooked at their inner ends on hooks 26 depending from lugs 27, extending radially of the apices of angle irons 29 forming said leg, and thereby exerting radial biasing forces on the spider 21, tending to maintain said spider in centered relation with respect to the plate 11.

The spider 21 is of a generally cross-like form having four sets of parallel arms 20, 20 of equal length joined at the center of the spider to the angle irons 29 which depend therefrom and are connected together to form the leg 25. The space between each pair of parallel arms for-ms a mounting for a jaw housing or casing 30. The casing 30 is shown as being an open ended casing having parallel spaced side plates 31 suitably connected together at the upper and lower ends thereof and having upper and lower clamping jaws 32 and 33 mounted therebetween, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds. The spider 21 also forms a support and guide for an operator 35 for the clamping jaws 32 and 33.

The operator 35, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 12, is of a generally cross-like form fitting within the arms 20, 20 and guided for slidable movement with respect thereto to position the clamping jaws 32 and 33 into the clamping position shown in FIGURE 6 to grippingly engage a bead 36 extending about the rim of a drum 37 and into a release position to release the clamping jaws 32 and 33 from the bead of the drum.

The operator 35 has two parallel arms 39, 39 extending for the length thereof and two parallel arms 40, 40' extending from each arm 39 equal distances from the center thereof and in aligned relation with respect to each other to form an open rectangle at the center of the spider for a guide sleeve 41, supporting the operator 35 and guided for slidable movement along a vertical shaft 42. The shaft 42 extends downwardly along the leg 25 along the center thereof and is secured thereto.

The sleeve 41 is welded or otherwise secured to the bottom surface of a transverse plate 43 extending across the arms 39, 39 at the upper ends thereof and welded or otherwise secured thereto. The sleeve also extends through a downwardly spaced latch plate 44, welded or otherwise secured at its ends to the inner sides of the arms 39, 39 and forming a keeper for latching the operator in the upper operating position shown in FIGURE 6.

The guide shaft 42 is shown in FIGURES 8 and 11 as being a threaded shaft and is threaded at its lower end in a block 45 at the bottom of the leg 25, and spacing the angle irons 29, 29 apart. The upper end of the shaft 42 abuts the undersurface of a bracket plate 46 and is welded or otherwise secured thereto. The bracket plate 46 is slip fitted between the legs 25 and is disposed beneath and free from a cap plate 47 engaging the top surfaces of the arms 20, 20 and suitably secured thereto. The cap plate 47 is shown as having four upright walls 48 extending upwardly therefrom at right angles with respect to each other and reinforced at their centers, as indicated by reference character 49 in FIGURE 6, and having a transverse aperture 52a extending therethrough and forming attachment means for hooks (not shown) on the ends of chains, which may be attached to a derrick or other lifting device, where it is desired to operate the attachment for lifting, when removed from the plate 11.

Horizontal gusset plates 51, 51 are secured at their inner ends to the angle irons 29, 29 beneath the arms 20, 20 and have opposite right angled sides 52, 52 extending along the outer sides of the right angled arms 39, 39 and p 40, 40 of the operator 35, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The outer ends of the right angled faces of the gusset plate 51 are connected to vertical bars 55 extending along the insides thereof and extending upwardly to the arms 20, 20 and suitably secured thereto, to form a guide means for cantilever support arms 56, 56 for the jaw casing 30.

Referring now in particular to the gripping jaws 32 and 33 and the support for the jaw casing 30 on the cantilever arm 56, the cantiliver arm 56 includes two parallel plate members 57 extending along the outer sides of the plates 31 of the casing 30 and connected together at the outer ends of the plate members 57, as by a transverse plate 58, extending across the tops thereof and welded or otherwise secured thereto. The arm 56 is retained in the upwardly extended position shown in FIGURE 6, in engagement with a stop 59 extending across the arms 20, 20, by a torsion spring 60. The torsion spring 60 extends about a pivot pin 61 forming a pivotal support for the cantilever arm 56 and mounted at its ends in the arms 20, 20. The torsion spring 60 engages a pin 62 on one of the legs thereof, mounted on the arms 20, 20 adjacent the inner ends thereof and extending thereacross. The opposite end of the torsion spring engages a bar 63, extending across the parallel plate members 57 of the cantilever lever, and welded or otherwise secured thereto. A pivot pin 65 is mounted at its ends in the plate members 57 of the cantilever lever 56, intermediate the ends of said lever and forms a pivotal mounting and fulcrum for the jaw casing 30. The pin 65 extends through the plates 31 of the jaw casing 30, adjacent the upper end portion thereof and intermediate the ends thereof and pivotally suspends said casing from the cantilever arm 56. A tension spring 66, is hooked at one end to the inner side of the plate 58 of a cantilever arm 56 and at its opposite end to a plate 67 connecting the plates 31 together at the upper forward ends thereof. The spring 66 biases the jaw casing into engagement with the undersurface of the plate 58. The plate 58 thus forms a stop for the jaw casing 30 limiting movement of said casing about the fulcrum pin 65 in a clockwise direction upon upward lifting move-ment of the spider 21, as the jaws 32 and 33 engage within and beneath the bead 36 of the drum 37.

The upper jaw 32 is mounted between the plates 31, on a fulcrum pin 69, mounted at its opposite ends in the plates 31 adjacent the lower rear or inner end portions thereof. A stop 70 extends between the plates 31 and is welded or otherwise secured thereto and forms a stop, limiting movement of the upper jaw 32 in a direction which is shown in FIGURE 4 as being a counterclockwise direction. A torsion spring 71 extends about the fulcrum pin 69 and engages a pin 72 extending outwardly of the upper jaw 32, at one leg of said spring. The other leg of the torsion spring 71 engages the stop 70, to bias the clamping jaw 32 into engagement with said stop and in extended relation with respect to the casing 30.

The lower clamping jaw 33 is pivotally mounted at its upper end between the plates 31, 31 of the casing 30 in lapping relation with respect to the upper clam-ping jaw 32, on a transverse pivot pin 73 mounted at its ends in the plates 31 adjacent the upper forward end portions thereof, but beneath the fulcrum pin 65 and forwardly of said fulcrum pin. A lift pin 75 extends through the lower clamping jaw 33 above the upper clamping jaw 32 and in downwardly and inwardly spaced relation with respect to the fulcrum pin 65. The pin 75 extends through slots 76 formed in the plates 31 of the casing 30 and beyond opposite sides of said casing into slots 77 formed in the parallel arms 39 and extending therealong. The pin 75 lifts or lowers the jaw 33 as the operator 35 moves vertically. The slots 77, 77 in the arms 39, 39 are elongated in horizontal directions and are of such a form as to accommodate movement of the pin 75 therealong and extensible or retractible movement of the casing 30 along said arms to conform the casing and clamping jaws 32 and 33 to drums of varying sizes and spaced various distances from the center of the spider 21.

A means is provided to lock hthe operating member 35 in its release position shown in FIGURE 9 and in its operative position shown in FIGURES 6 and 10. The locking means comprises a latch dog 79 mounted in a downwardly opening slotted portion 80 of the plate 46 on a pivot pin 81 extending across and mounted in said plate. The latch dog 79 depends from the plate 46 through a slot 82 in the plate 43 and an aligned slot 83 in the keeper plate 44. A latch notch 85 facing the keeper plate 44 is formed in the latch dog. The notch 85 has a flat bottom surface engageable with the undersurface of the keeper plate 44 to lock the operator 35 in its up inoperative or release position shown in FIGURE 9. The notch 85 also has an upwardly and outwardly inclined camming surface 86 camming the latch to release the keeper plate 44 upon lowering movement of the spider to engage the gusset plates 51, 51 with the tops of a cluster of drums. A compression spring 87 is seated at one end in a top wall of the slot 80 and at its opposite end on the latch dog 79 and biases the notch 85 into engagement with the plate 44 as said notch is aligned with the plate 44 and a cam 88 is positioned into the release position shown in FIGURE 9.

The cam 88 is shown as being hexagonal in form, to provide six lobes and as being mounted on a transverse sleeve 89 for rotation by said sleeve. The sleeve is rotatably mounted on a shaft 84, mounted at its ends in the plates 39. Turning movement of the shaft 89 will thus turn the cam 88 to bring a lobe of the cam into camming engagement with the latch dog 7'9 and positively move and hold said latch dog into an unlatched position W1th respect to the keeper plate 44. A pawl 90, pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft 91, is biased into engagement with the cam 88 by a torsion spring 92, to hold the cam 88 in its latch dog release position shown in FIGURE 10.

The shaft 89 and cam 88 are rotated by a ratchet wheel 93 secured to the shaft 89 in spaced relation with respect to the cam 88. The ratchet wheel 93 has twice as many teeth as lobes on the cam 88, to rotatably advance the cam 88 into position to move a lobe of said cam out of engagement with the latch dog 79, as a tooth 95 of a pawl 96 engages a tooth of said ratchet wheel and rotates said ratchet wheel, by movement of the operator 35 a distance equivalent to the distance between the tips of two teeth of said ratchet wheel, as the operator 35 is moved from the operative position shown in FIGURE 10 to its inoperative locked position shown in FIGURE 9. The pawl 96 is pivotally mounted in a downwardly opening slot '97 in the plate 46, and extending parallel to the slot 80 on a pivot pin 81. A compression spring 98 seated at one end in the top wall of the slot 97 and at its opposite end on the top surface of the pawl '96 is provided to bias the tooth 95 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 93.

It may be seen from FIGURES 6, 8, l0 and 11 that as downward movement of the spider 21 is stopped by engagement of the gusset plates 51 with the tops of the drums 37, the operator 35 will be moved towards the support plate 46. During this movement of the operator, the pawl 96 pressed into engagement with a tooth of the ratchet 93 by the spring 95 will rotate said ratchet a (118- tance of one tooth and move the cam 88 to push the latch dog 79 out of locking engagement with the keeper plate 44, and hold the latch dog out of engagement with said keeper plate. This will permit the operator 35 to drop downward and thereby let the jaw 33 swing toward the drum 37, under the bead 36 of said drum. As the spider 21 is lifted, the jaw 33 will catch under the bead of the drum and force the bead 36 outwardly against the upper jaw 32, to effect a positive gripping action on the bead of the drum by the jaws 32 and 33. The gripping action of-the jaws of each clamping device is the same so the cluster of drums may then be lifted upon continued upward lifting movement of the spider 21. I

On upward lifting movement of the spider 21, the weight of the drums 37 will tend to pivot the cantilever levers 56 about their pivot pins 61 against the torsion springs 60.

This will then position the casings 30 to maintain the clamping jaws 32 and 33 in position to allow the drums to be pulled together by gravity and maintain the tops of the drums generally horizontal and thereby reduce the tendency of the drums to swing as they are being transported from place to place. Stops 99, extending along the insides of bars 100 inwardly of the sides 52, 52 of the gusset plates 51, 51 are provided to limit downward movement of the cantilever arms 56, against the bias of the torsion springs 60.

Locating arms 101, 101 extend diagonally of the leg 25 from the intersections of the faces of the angles 29, to properly locate the spider 21 with respect to a cluster of drums as the unit is moved downwardly in the space between the cluster of drums. Each locating arm 101 is shown as being welded or otherwise secured at its inner end to a vertical pivot shaft 103, pivotally mounted at one end in a lug 27 and at its opposite end in a downwardly spaced lug 104. Spring socket members 105, 105 extend angularly inwardly of opposite sides of the inner end portion of each locating arm 101 toward the leg or face of an angle 29. Springs 106 are seated in the spring sockets 105 and engage the opposite legs of the adjacent angles 29, and bias the locating arm 101 to split the angle between the legs of the associated angle 29 and yieldably maintain said locating arm in centered relation with respect to the adjacent right angled arms 20, 20 of the spider 21. The locating arms 101 have inclined bottom surfaces, inclined downwardly and inwardly from the lower ends of upper abutment flanges 109 to positions closely adjacent the leg 25, to facilitate the centering of the spider and the locating of the jaws 32 and 33 in the casings 30, 30 with respect to a cluster of drums, and thereby position said casings, to engage the jaws 32 and 33 within and beneath the beads of the drums as the spider is first moved downwardly into engagement with the drums and then moved upwardly to grip the jaws with the beads of the drums and lift the drums upwardly therewith.

In operation of the device when attached to a lift truck, the truck may bring the boom arm 12 over a cluster of drums, which in the form of the invention shown herein may be four drums, with the spider 21 generally centered with respect to the drums. The boom arm 12 may then be lowered to bring the locating arms 101 downwardly into engagement with the drums and move therebetween and thereby center the spider with respect to the cluster of drums. As the spider is centered, continued downward movement thereof will engage the gusset plates 51 with the tops of the drums 37. The operator 35 has then been moved upward. This effects turning of the ratchet wheel 93 of the pawl 96 and turning of the cam 88 to move and hold the latch dog 79 out of engagement with the latch plate 44. This will release the operator 35 to drop downward and allow the aws 33 to swing towards the drums.

The boom arm 12 may then be lifted by the lift truck, to bodily lift the spider and operator 35, with the hooked ends of the lower jaws beneath the beads of the drums. As the spider 21 continues to move upwardly, the lower clamping jaw 33 will force the bead of the drum into engagement with the inner side of the upper clamping jaw 32 and the casing 30 will tend to fulcrum outwardly about the fulcrum pin 65. At the same time the cantilever lever 56 will pivot downwardly about the axis of its pivot pin 62 to maintain the casing 30 and lower and upper clamping jaws in position to hold the drum in a generally vertical position with its top surface extending horizontally.

The jaws 32 and 33 are released from the drums 37 by lowering the boom arm 12, to set the drums on a solid support on the ground or to stack the drums on top of other drums. As the drums 37 rest on a solid support, lowering of the spider 21 is continued until the gusset plates 51 rest on the tops of the drums. This will move the operator 35 toward the cap 48. During this movement the tooth 95 of the pawl 96 will rotate the ratchet Wheel 93 and cam 88 to release a lobe of said cam from the latch dog 79 and position a low portion of said cam to extend along said latch dog, as shown in FIGURE 9. The spring 87 may then move the latch dog 79 to engage the notch 85 with the keeper plate 44 annd hold the operator in its up position shown in FIGURE 9. The operator 35 through the slots 77 and pin will then hold the jaw 33 slightly inside the edge of the casing 30. The casing 30 may then be lifted away from the drums.

When the attachment is attached to the chain of a derrick or like lifting device, the centering and gripping operation is the same as previously described, it being understood that the device is disconnected from the plate 11 during any such barrel lifting operation.

It may be seen from the foregoing that the device of the invention is universally adaptable for various sizes and types of drums and may be carried by conventional lift trucks or by the chains of derricks, and that the cantilever arms supporting the gripping jaw housing, position the housings or casings and the gripping jaws carried thereby, to tend to pull the drums together and to support the drums to hang vertically when transported from place to place.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which the invention may be embodied, it may readily be understood that various variations and modifications in the invention may be attained without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

- I claim as my invention:

1. An attachment for gripping and lifting drums and the like comprising:

a vertically movable spider,

-a drum clamping device carried by said spider for limited movement with respect thereto, and includa vertically extending open ended casing pivoted to and depending from said spider and having a pair of clamping jaws movably mounted therein and extending therefrom, to grip beneath and within the bead of a drum,

an operator for said clamping jaws slidably mounted on said spider for vertical movement toward and from said spider,

a lift pin connected with one of said jaws and relatively movable with respect to said casing and having longitudinal slidable engagement with said operator for accommodating said jaw to engage beneath the bead of a drum,

and means releasably latching said operator in an upper release position to withdraw the jaw engaging beneath the bead of a drum within said casing by said lift pin upon upward movement of said spider, to release said jaws from the bead of a drum.

2. An attachment for gripping and lifting drums in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the holding means comprises a latch dog pivoted to said spider and biased into latching engagement with said operator in the release position of said operator.

3. An attachment for gripping and lifting drums in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the holding means comprises a latch dog transversely pivoted to said spider and depending from the top thereof and having a notched lower end portion biased to have latching engagement with said operator, to hold said operator in an upward release position, to withdraw the jaw engaging beneath the bead of a drum within said casing, and release the jaws from the bead of the drum upon upward lifting movement of said spider and operator.

4. An attachment for gripping and lifting drums in accordance with claim 3,

wherein a spring biases said latch dog into latching engagement with said operator,

and wherein a cam operated by relative movement between said spider and said operator positively moves said latch out of position to have latohing engagement with said operator and accommodates said operator to drop with respect to said spider, and hold said jaws in engagement beneath and within the bead of a drum upon upward lifting movement of said spider.

5. An attachment for gripping and lifting drums in accordance with claim 4,

wherein a ratchet rotatably mounted on said operator is provided to rotate said 'cam into its release and locking positions,

and wherein a pawl pivoted to said spider is biased into engagement with said ratchet and rotates said ratchet to bring said cam into its releasing and latching positions by relative vertical movement between said spider and operator.

6. An attachment for gripping and lifting drums and the COmpllSllIg:

a vertically movable spider adapted to be attached to and lifted and lowered by a lifting device,

a drum clamping device including a casing movably carried by said spider,

a cantilever arm transversely pivoted to said spider at its inner end :and extending outwardly therealong,

spring means biasing said cantilever arm in upwardly extended relation with respect to said spider, a fulcrum pin pivotally suspending said casing from said spider,

a lower clamping jaw transversely pivoted to said casing adjacent the upper end of said casing and extending downwardly along said casing and having a hooked lower end portion engageable beneath the bead of a drum,

an upper clamping jaw pivoted to said casing adjacent the lower end thereof and extending upwardly and outwardly of its pivot along said lower clamping jaw and upwardly and inwardly therefrom to engage within the bead of a drum,

a stop for said upper clamping jaw,

spring means biasing said upper clamping jaw outwardly with respect to said casing into engagement with said stop,

an operator mounted on said spider for vertical movement toward and from said spider,

a transverse lift pin connected with the lower of said clamping jaws adjacent the upper end thereof,

a slot in said casing accommodating said lift pin to eX- tend outwardly of said casing and move relatively with respect to said casing,

a longitudinally extending slot in said operator engaged by said lift pin,

said lift pin moving said lower clamping jaw within said casing upon movement of said operator toward said spider, effected by downward movement of said spider into engagement with the top of a drum as the drum is set 'on a solid support, to accommodate release of said clamping jaws upon upward lifting movement of said spider,

and releasable latch means locking said operator in its release position to hold said lower clamping jaw in retracted relation with respect to said casing.

7. An attachment for gripping and lifting drums in accordance with claim 6,

wherein the latching means comprises a latch dog transversely pivoted to said spider and depending from the upper end portion thereof and having a notch in the lower end portion thereof biased to have latching engagement with said operator upon the registering of said notch with said operator.

8. An attachment for gripping and lifting drums in accordance wih claim 7,

wherein a cam positively holds said latch dog out of position to engage said operator and accommodates said operator to position said clamping jaws to engage beneath and within the head of a drum upon upward lifting movement of said spider,

and wherein said cam is operated by relative movement between said spider and latch dog.

9. An attachment in accordance with claim 6,

wherein locating arms extend from the spider along opposite sides of the jaw casing and diverge from said casing as they extend outwardly therealong equal distances from each side of the casing for engaging a drum and centering said casing and the jaws contained therein with respect to said drum. 10. An attachment for simultaneously gripping and lifting a cluster of drums having beaded comprising,

a spider having a plurality of horizontally extending anms extending at right angles with respect to each other,

a drum clamping device carried by each arm and including a vertically extending open ended casing having upper and (lower gripping jaws pivotally mounted therein and extending therefrom to grip beneath and within the bead Off a drum,

a support for each drum clamping device on said spider comprising an individual cantilever arm transversely pivoted to said spider at its inner end and extending outwardly along an associated horizontally extending arm,

spring means biasing said cantilever arm in upwardly extended relation with respect to said spider,

pivot means fiulcruming said casing to said cantilever anm intermediate the ends of said arm and suspending said casing from said arm,

an operator for said clamping jaws including a vertically movable frame,

a lift pin carried by one of said clamping jaws of each pair of jaws and having longitudinal slidable engagerne'nt with said operator for lifting said clamping jaw upon downward movement of said spider into eng'agement with the tops of the drums,

and releasable latch means operated by relative vertical movement between said operator and spider for holding said operator in a release position with \respect to said spider to retract the lower of said clamping jaws within said casings upon upward movement of said spider and to release said operator to position said clamping jaws to engage beneath and 'within the beads of the drums and lift the drums upon upward lifting movement of said spider.

11. A drum gripping attachment in accordance with claim 10,

of at least four drums having beaded rims,

a vertically movable spider having four sets of parallel radially extending support arms extending at right angles with respect to each other,

a separate drum clamping device carried between each set of arms of said spider and movably suspended therefrom,

each clamping device including an open ended casing having upper and lower clamping jaws pivotally mounted therein,

an operator movably mounted on said spider and having a plurality of pairs of operating arms corresponding to said arms of said spider,

each pair of arms extending along opposite sides of a clamping device open ended casing,

a separate lift pin mounted on one of said clamping jaws for each clamping device, for relative movement with respect to said casing, and having connection with said operator,

and releasable means holding said operator in its release position to retract the lower of said clamping jaws within said casing upon upward movement of said spider, and positively releasing said operator upon the lowering of said spider on a'cluster of drums comprising,

a latch dog transversely pivoted to said spider and depending therealong and having a lower end portion biased into latching engagement with said operator to hold said operator in an upward release position,

a cam positively moving said latch dog out of position to engage said operator,

and a pawl and ratchet device connected between said spider and operator for rotating said cam upon relative movement between said spider and operator into position to accommodate latching engagement between said latch dog and said operator and to move and hold said latch dog out of latching association with said operator.

13. A drum gripping and lifting attachment in accordance with claim 12,

of drums, each having a bead extending about the upper edge thereof,

a vertically movable spider having four sets of radially extending support arms and adapted to be connected with a lifting device,

a pair of cantilever levers extending along each set of arms and transversely pivoted thereto adjacent the inner ends of said arms,

spring means biasing said cantilever levers in upwardly extended relation with respect to said arms,

a drum clamping device depending from each pair of cantilever levers, each including an open ended casing pivoted between said levers intermediate the ends thereof and depending therefrom,

upper and lower clamping jaws pivotally mounted within each casing and extending outwardly of the open end thereof,

the lower of said clamping jaws being pivoted to said casing adjacent the upper end thereof and extending downwardly along said casing for engagement beneath the bead of the drum,

the upper of said clamping jaws being pivoted to said casing adjacent the lower end thereof and extending upwardly along the lower of said jaws and inwardly therefrom to grip within the head of the drum,

spring means biasing the upper of said jaws in extended relation with said casing,

an operator mounted on said spider for vertical movement with respect thereto into operating and release positions,

said operator having a plurality of pairs of operating arms corresponding to said support arms of said spider and extending along opposite sides of said casings,

a lift pin mounted on the lower of said clamping jaws adjacent the upper end thereof for vertical movement with respect to said casing,

slots extending longitudinally of said operator arms and engaged by said lift pins,

said lift pins lifting said lower clamping jaws within said casings by downward movement of said spider onto the tops of the drums, to release said clamping jaws from the drums upon upward movement of said spider,

and releasable means releasing said operator to move downwardly of said spider and effect clamping of said jaws with the bead of the drum and having latching engagement with said operator to hold said operator to retract the lower of clamping jaws to release the drums by the setting of the drums on a solid support and continued downward movement of said spider into engagement with the tops of the drums, and then lifting said spider and operator.

15. An attachment for gripping and lifting a cluster of drums in accordance with claim 14,

wherein a plurality of locating arms are vertically pivoted on said spider between said support arms and extend radially with respect to the center of said spider equal distances from opposite sides of said casings and angularly with respect thereto,

and wherein spring means bias said locating arms in centered relation with respect to said spider,

whereby said locating arms engage along opposite sides of a drum upon lowering movement of said spider to locate said spider and clamping jaws in operative association with individual drums of a cluster of drums.

16. An attachment for gripping and lifting a cluster of drums in accordance with claim 14,

wherein the holding means for said operator comprises a latch dog transversely pivoted to said spider adjacent the upper end thereof and depending therefrom and having a latching notch at its lower end,

wherein spring means bias said latching notch into latching engagement with said operator when said operator is in its elevated operating position,

wherein a cam has spaced lobes having camming engagement with said latch dog, to positively hold said latch dog in released relation with respect to said operator upon lowering movement of said spider into engagement with the tops of the drums and lifting movement of said spider,

and wherein pawl and ratchet means connected between said spider and operator, position said cam to hold said latch dog in a release position and in position to accommodate said spring means to engage said latch dog with said operator.

17. An attachment for gripping and lifting a cluster of drums in accordance with claim 16,

wherein a plurality of locating arms are vertically pivoted to said spider adjacent the center thereof between said support arms and diverge equal distances from opposite sides of said casings,

and 'wherein spring means bia said locating arms to extend equal distances from opposite sides of said casings and accommodate said arms to locate said casings and jaws with the beads of the drums upon lowering movement of said spider and casings to grip a cluster of drums.

18. In an attachment for gripping and lifting a cluster of drums, each having a bead extending about the rim thereof and in combination with a lift truck having a horizontal vertically movable boom arm,

a spider having four sets of radially extending support arms each set being spaced ninety degrees from the other and intersecting other sets at their inner ends,

means mounting said spider on said horizontally extending boom arm for horizontal movement with respect thereto,

spring means connected between said boom arm and said spider adjacent the points of intersection of said sets of arms, for biasing said spider in centered relation with respect to said boom arm,

a pair of cantilever levers extending along each set of support arms and transversely pivoted thereto adjacent the inner ends of said sets of support arms,

spring means biasing said cantilever levers in upwardly extended relation with respect to said support arms,

a drum clamping device depending from each pair of cantilever levers and disposed therebetween, each including,

an open ended casing pivoted between said cantilever levers intermediate the ends of said levers and depending therefrom,

upper and lower clamping jaws pivotally mounted within said casing and extending outwardly of the open end thereof,

an operator movably mounted on said spider for movement toward and from said spider and having a plurality of pairs of operating arms extending along opposite sides of said casings,

a plurality of locating arms on said spider pivoted at the points of intersection of said sets of arms and extending radially of said spider,

spring means biasing said locating arms to extend midway between said support arms to center said casings and clamping jaws with respect to a drum upon lowering movement of said spider within a cluster of drums,

a separate lift pin mounted on one of said clamping jaws of each clamping device for movement with respect to said casings and having longitudinally slidable engagement with said operating arms for retracting the clamping jaws connected thereto, within said casing upon lowering of said spider into engagement with the tops of the drums,

a latch dog pivoted to said spider and having a notch for latching engagement with said operator for holding said operator in its release position and releasing said operator to position said clamping .jaws to engage beneath and within the beads of the drums upon upward lifting movement of said spider.

19. In an attachment for gripping and lifting a cluster of drums, each having a bead extending about the rim thereof and in combination with a lift truck having a horizontal vertically movable boom arm,

a spider having four sets of radially extending support arms each set being spaced ninety degrees from the other and intersecting other sets at their inner ends,

means mounting said spider on said horizontally extending boom arm for horizontal movement with respect thereto,

spring means connected between said boom arm and said spider adjacent the points of intersection of said sets of arms for biasing said spider in centered relationwith respect to said boom arm,

a pair of cantilever levers extending along each set of support arms and transversely pivoted thereto adjacent the inner ends of said sets of support arms,

spring means biasing said cantilever leve-rs in upwardly extended relation with respect to said support arms,

a drum clamping device depending from each pair of cantilever levers and disposed therebetween, each including an open ended casing pivoted between said cantilever levers intermediate the ends of said levers and depending therefrom,

separate upper and lower clamping jaws pivotally mounted within each casing and extending outwardly of the open end thereof,

the lower of said clamping jaws being pivoted to said casings adjacent the upper ends thereof and extending downwardly along said casings for engagement beneath the beads of the drums,

the upper of said clamping jaws being pivotally mounted to said casings adjacent the lower ends thereof and extending along the lower of said jaws and inwardly therefrom to grip within the beads of the drums,

spring means biasing the lower of said jaws in extended relation with respect to said casing,

an operator mounted on said spider for movement toward and from said spider and having a plurality of sets of operating arms,

each set of operating arms extending along opposite sides of an associated casing,

and having aligned slots adjacent the outer end thereof extending longitudinally therealong,

a lift pin mounted on the lower of each of said clampin-g jaws adjacent the upper end portion thereof,

said lift pin extending through said casing beyond opposite sides thereof and mounted for relative movement with respect thereto, and having slidable engagement with said slots, for retracting said lower clamping jaws within said casings upon movement of said operator toward said spider effected by engagement of said spider onto the tops of the drums,

and releasable means for releasing said operator to move to an operative position and for holding said operator in a release position comprising,

a latch dog pivoted to said spider and depending therefrom and having a latching notch engageable with said operator, and

spring means biasing said notch to have latching engagement with said operator.

20. An attachment for gripping and lifting a cluster of drums in accordance with claim 19,

wherein a rotatable cam positively holds said latch dog in a release position and accommodates said latch dog to move into a latching position,

wherein a ratchet wheel is operatively connected with said cam for rotatably moving said cam,

wherein a pawl is pivoted at its upper end to said spider and depends therefrom and has a lower pawl tooth engageable with said ratchet,

and 'wherein spring means bias said pawl tooth into engagement with said ratchet to efiect rotation of said ratchet and cam into holding and release positions during each step of movement of said latch dog and spider towards each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,807,493 9/1957 Ryan 294-90 3,212,808 10/1965 Breslav 29481 0 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

G. F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ATTACHMENT FOR GRIPPING AND LIFTING AND THE LIKE COMPRISING: A VERTICALLY MOVABLE SPIDER, A DRUM CLAMPING DEVICE CARRIED BY SAID SPIDER FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO, AND INCLUDING, A VERTICALLY EXTENDING OPEN ENDED CASING PIVOTED TO AND DEPENDING FROM SAID SPIDER AND HAVING A PAIR OF CLAMPING JAWS MOVABLY MOUNTED THEREIN AND EXTENDING THEREFROM, TO GRIP BENEATH AND WITHIN THE BEAD OF A DRUM, AN OPERATOR FOR SAID CLAMPING JAWS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SPIDER FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT TOWARD AND FROM SAID SPIDER, A LIFT PIN CONNECTED WITH ONE OF SAID JAWS AND RELATIVELY MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID CASING AND HAVING LONGITUDINAL SLIDABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID OPERATOR FOR ACCOMMODATING SAID JAW TO ENGAGE BENEATH BEAD OF A DRUM, AND MEANS RELEASABLY LATCHING SAID OPERATOR IN AN UPPER RELEASE POSITION TO WITHDRAW THE JAW ENGAGING BENEATH THE BEAD OF A DRUM WITHIN SAID CASING BY SAID LIFT PIN UPON UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SPIDER, TO RELEASE SAID JAWS FROM THE BEAD OF A DRUM. 